Value indexing mechanism



G. W. HOPKINS ETAL VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM June 22, 1954 16 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 31, 1950 INVENTOR-S. GE-DRGE- W HOPKINJ ARTHUR J.MALAVAZO/' Julie 1954 a. w. HOPKINS ETAL 2,681,765

' VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. Geonqz- W. HOPKINJ ARTHUR J. MALAVAZO/ J1me 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 16 Sheets Sheet 5 'FIE EA v 4 4n 4-H IN V EN TORS.

. GEORGE- W. Hemm- Anruua J.MALAVAZO.I

June 22, 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM.

16 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Jan. 31, 1950 m mnHlmv June 22, 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM l6 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 31, 1950 P MFMH g uvmvrozzs.

Ge-oaeEW HOPKlN-f ARTHUR J.MALAVA10J' B J1me 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM lS Sh etS-Sheet 9 Filed Jan. 31, 1950 zzvmvrozzs. G509. W. HDPKINI Aa'mua J. MALAVAZOJ' June 1954 G. w. HOPKINS ETAL VALVE mnsxmc MECHANISM 16 Sheets-$heet 10 Filed Jan, 31, 1950 nNn Ono Gun BNO mNn IN V EN TORS.

Gc-onqe W. Homum' ARTHUR J. MALAvAzo/ June 22, 1954 G. w, opK s ETAL 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM I Filed Jan. :51, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet ll 35 IN VEN TORS GEOR .HOPKlNJ FI ARTHUR J. LAVAZOJ J1me 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 16 Sheets-Sheet l2 FIE=5 J E I INVENTORS- Geoaec- W. HOPKINJ ARTHUR J. MALAVAZOJ J1me 1954 6. w. HOPKINS ETAL 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 '16 She'ets-Shet, l3

INVENTORS. GEORGE W. HOPKINJ' AR'THuR J. MALAVAZOJ w '1 E [h n 22,1 4 G. w. HoPKl Ns Em 2 681 765 VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 .16 Sheets-Sheet 14 INVENTORS. GEORGE W. HOPKIN! An'ruua J. MALAVAZOJ' FIE ILE J1me 1954 e. w. HOPKINS ETAL 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 m 1 H h INVENTOR'. Geoace Whom": Aa'ruun J. MALAVAZO/ 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 June 22, 1954 s. w. HOPKINS ETA]... 2,681,765

VALVE INDEXING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 31, 1950 I 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 asses I In 1 I n J III III

III

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| I I i I I l {Q -"aa| 282 INVENTORS. 4-69 GEORGE W. HOPKlNr 4&2 3 A Aa'rnua J.MALAVAZOI FIE-LL77 Patented June 22, 1954 VALUE INDEXIN G MECHANISM George W. Hopkins, San Leandro, and Arthur J. Malavazos, Oakland, Callfl, assignors to Friden Calculating Machine 60., Inc., a corporation of California Original application November 7, 1949, Serial No. 125,872. Divided and this application January 31, 1950, Serial No. 141,508

22 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a selection mechanism for a ten key calculating machine and is a division of the co-pending application of the two applicants herein and Donald L. Rolph, Serial No. 125,872, filed November 7, 1949, which has been abandoned in favor of the continuation-inpart application S. N. 189,842, filed October 12, 1950, and is related to the co-pending application S. N. 141,507, of George W. Hopkins, one of the applicants herein, and Donald L. Rolph. This application relates specifically to a selection mechanism for placing values in an internal carriage and the positioning of such carriage preparatory to digitation; the related application of Hopkins and Rolph just mentioned specifically describes and claims the digitation mechanism particularly suitable for utilizing such values; while the parent application, although describing the complete machine (and thus the features of each of the related parts thereof) formed by the combination of the mechanisms of this and the related Hopkins and Rolph applications, contains only claims directed to the entire machine, and particularly to the cooperation, or inter action of parts, of this and the related Hopkins and Rolph applications.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved selection mechanism for an adding machine.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a compact selection mechanism for a small adding machine, the mechanism having a short key stroke and capable of handling factors of considerable size. In one embodiment of this invention a machine of an overall width of about ten inches Was capable of handling factors of twenty digits.

Another important aspect of this invention is the provision of a light key touch adding and subtracting machine, i. e., one in which the keys are easily operated. In the present instance we prefer to latch the selecting and control mechanisms against spring pressure tending to operate them, and initiate operation by unlatching the mechanism. Combined therewith is a new and improved restoring means, preferably operated by rotary solenoids to restore parts to normal, or latched, positions, and to effect the necessary movement of parts, incident to setting a factor into the machine.

Another important feature is the provision of a simple and highly flexible multiple zero mechanism in which any number of zeros can be entered automatically into a factor by depression of a multiple zero key'and the numeral key representing the number of zeros desired to be entered. Such a mechanism avoids the insertion of a plurality of zeros by separately pumping them in one-by-one, and permits them all to be entered from a single stroke of the hand.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a back spacing mechanism, operated by depression of a back spacing key, which is effective to erase only the last of a number of digits then standing in the selection mechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved value selection and value storing mechanism whereby a number (even one containing a great many digits) can be set up from a ten-key keyboard quickly and easily and stored in settable value selection plates or segments from which the value may be transferred into the accumulator as desired.

These and other objects of the present invention will be disclosed in the specification and claims which follow:

Throughout the specification the front of the machine is that part closest to the operator during normal operation thereof; the back or rear is that part furthest from the operator; and the right or left the sides to the operators right or left, respectively, as the operator faces the front of the machine. Obviously, in views from the rear (such as in Fig. 7) the right side will appear at the left of the figure. Also, longitudinal is used as indicative of something extending from front to back; and transverse as extending from left to right across the machine.

The present invention will be readily understood from a reference to the drawings. It can be here noted that the drawings herein are sub stantially exact duplicates of Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, 26 and 5A to 17, inclusive, respectively of the above-mentioned parent application Serial No. 189,842. Reference characters on these drawings which are not referred to in the present specification are those reference characters in such parent application, and the parts so indicated are described in the parent application.

Fig. 1 is a front View of the adding machine of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail plan view of the selection levers, immediately under the keyboard which is seen on the lower right hand corner of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken from the right hand side of the keyboard on the vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary right side elevation through the carriage and registering mechanism taken on a vertical longitudinal plane through the machine immediately to the left of the central supporting plate.

Figs. 5A and 5B are overlapping partial plan views of the selection levers operated by the numeral keys: Fig. 5A being the left hand portion and Fig. 53 being the right hand portion of this mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a selection arm and its associated mechanism, taken along the vertical transverse plane indicated by the line '.i-6 of Fig. 513.

Fig. '7 is a rear view of the selection arm, and its associated mechanism taken on the vertical transverse plane indicated by the line 1-4 of Fig. 5B.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the carriage shifting mechanism, being taken on a transverse vertical plane immediately behind the keyboard, such as indicated by the line 8-8 in Figs. 5A and 513.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the carriage latching mechanism, showing mechanism immediately to the left of that shown in Fig. 8, such as along the vertical transverse plane indicated by line 9--9 of Fig. 5A.

Fig. 10 is a front view of a detail of the control mechanism taken along the vertical plane indicated by the transverse line lt-lii of Fig. 5A.

Fig. 11 is a rear view of a detail of the control mechanism taken along the vertical transverse plane indicated by the line i l-l I of Fig. 5A.

Fig. 12 is a right side view of a detail of the control mechanism taken along a vertical longitudinal plane immediately to the right of the lower right-hand corner of the mechanism shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view, from the right side of the selection mechanism and the internal carriage, taken along the vertical longitudinal plane indicated by the lines l3-l3 of Fig. 5A, and showing particularly the relationship be tween the two mechanisms.

Fig. l i is a front elevation, similar to Fig. 8 but with the carriage shown in its home position and with certain parts eliminated for clarification.

Fig. 15 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 14 showing particularly the control for operating the selection segment restoring solenoid.

Fig. 16 is a right side view taken along the longitudinal vertical plane indicated by the line lt-i6 of Fig. 15 and showing particularly the mechanism operative to'clear a factor from the selection segments.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged front view of the carriage.

General arrangement The adding machine of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. The machine is preferably enclosed in a customary cover plate 30. In the upper left-hand corner of the cover plate is a suitable rectangular aperture 3| for the display of totals accumulated in the machine, or phirality of such apertures if a plurality of registers is desired. Below the aperture 3| is a second aperture 32 for the display of the factor then being set up in the machine, 1. e., for display of check dials. Slidable decimal indicators 33 may be mounted adjacent the apertures for indicating decimal points in the check dials and register dials. Preferably the machine is mounted on a plurality of rubber feet 34.

The general arrangement of the mechanisms is as follows: The keyboard comprising the zero key 400 and the 9 numeral keys 461 to 369, inclusive, and the control keys are arranged in the lower right hand front face of the machine, as shown in Fig. l. Preferably the value and control keys are mounted in a removable assembly, as shown in Fig. 3, which is inserted through a suitable opening 39 in the lower right hand face of the cover plate.

The register dials H9 and aperture 3|, and the check dial aperture 32 are located in the upper left hand corner of the face of the machine. The check dials Z!!! are carried by the internal carriage, hereinafter described, while the register dials are rotatably but non-shiftably mounted in the machine. The internal carriage lies transversely in the machine, and is located slightly below the level of the check dials, and in its home position is located to the right of the aperture 32, i. e., somewhat above the keyboard. In this position, no figures can be visible the check dial aperture 32. The selection mechanism for transposing values selected by depression of the value keys into the internal carriage lies behind and below the keyboard. It will be understood that with the insertion of values into the internal carriage, it (the carriage) is shifted ordinarily to the left, disclosing the values so inserted in the check dials, digit by digit, as they are entered.

The accumulating mechanism is located behind and below the aperture 3!, and utilizes the values inserted into the carriage for adding to or subtracting from the values standing in the accumulator. In digitation, the accumulating mechanism for each order of the register is differentially operated according to the value standing in the carriage in the same order. In the example shown in Fig. 1, only the firstthree orders from the right will be operative to add or substract the figure shown in the check dials, to the corresponding orders of the register. While all of the actuating levers (one for each order of the register) are driven during digitation, only the levers in the orders in which a digit is shown in the check dials are effective to cause direct operation in the register. vOf course, there is a tens-carry mechanism, which is operative to the left of the actuated accumulating mechanism, and this carry mechanism is operative throughout the full width of the register.

The mechanism of the machine is mounted upon a base plate 35, which in turn is supported by the feet 3 1. Mounted on the base plate 35 are preferably three supporting plates, at right side plate 35 (Fig. 5B), a left side plate 37 and a center supporting plate 38 (such as shown in Fig. 9). Other mechanisms will be supported upon the brackets mounted upon the base plate or on the three major supporting plates as will be from time to time described.

Value selection Values to be entered into the machine are entered by means of a zero key lfiil and value keys 40! to M19, inclusive. The value keys, together with necessary control keys are grouped together in the lower right hand corner of the front of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1. Associated with the keys 409 to 409, inclusive, are the selection levers M0 to M9, inclusive. (Figs. 2 and 3.) For purposes of simplification the last digit of the reference characters referring to the numeral keys and the selection mechanism down to the travelling carriage described hereinafter,

refer to the value of the key to which such mechanism is associated. For example, the lever M is associated with the numeral key 40%! for entry of 0; the lever 4H with the key 40! entering the value 1, etc. The forward end of the value entering levers 4m to H9 are provided with upraised ends 42!! to 429, respectively, preferably terminating (as shown in Fig. 3) immediately below the key stems 50 associated with each of the numeral keys.

The keyboard or the present machine is preferably of the self-sealing type disclosed in the co-pending application of Hopkins Serial No. 54,921, now Patent No. 2,559,820. In this type of keyboard assembly (shown in Fig. 3) the keyboard can be assembled separately, and apart from the machine, and inserted into the opening 39 of the machine quite readily. The keys its to 409, inclusive, are mounted upon ten identical key stems 50 which are slidably mounted in an upper plate and a lower plate 52. The plates 5| and 52 are separated by spacers 53 and held in rigid spaced relationship by machine studs 54. The assembly is suitably mounted in the cover 30 by any suitable means such as studs 55. The keys are normally maintained in their raised positions by suitable compression springs 56 surrounding each key stem and placed between the bottom plate 52 and a pin 51 in each key stem. As mentioned previously, the forward ends of the key levers M0 to M9, inclusive, are bent upwardly so as to immediately underlie the key stems 50.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that three of the key levers (preferably 417, M8 and 419) extend straight back, while the others are bent at inverted right angles to provide suitable clearance. As shown in Fig. 2 the key levers M4, M5 and 416 are bent to lie to the left of the key levers M7, 418 and M9, respectively; and key levers MI, 412 and 413 are bent to lie to the right. Behind the keyboard the ten levers are parallel and spaced apart as shown. All of the levers are pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 6!! journalled in a bracket 62 secured to the base plate. The levers are separated by suitable spacers, or sleeves, 6|. The rear ends of the key levers are bent to permit their rear ends to lie in juxtaposition, as is shown in Figs. 5A and 5B.

The rear ends of the levers M0 to H9, inclusive, terminate in ears 69 positioned at points diiferentially spaced from one another, as shown in Fig. 5B. In the embodiment shown, the lever 4! 9 terminates closest to the front and the lever 4H] terminates furthest to the rear. The terminal ears, or lugs, 69 terminate at stepped elevations, as shown in Figs. 6 and 8, in order to provide a uniform amount of rise of such ears irrespective of the difference in radial length from the shaft 60 to the respective ear.

Referring to Figs. 5A, 5B and 6 it will be seen that the key levers All! to M8, inclusive, are operative to position the selection arms 43s to 439, inclusive, which directly enter the values into the carriage to be described hereinafter. Each of the selection arms is positioned by an actuator arm MEI to 443, inclusive, each of which actuator arms is powered by. a spring 8b, as hereinafter described. The value key levers 489 to 419 operate to release latches holding the respective actuating arms M0 to 4%, whereby the spring 86 operates to raise its respective selection arm. Thus the actual work of setting the selection levers is done by the springs, thus lessening the force required for key depression.

The mechanism for release of the actuator arms MB to 449, inclusive, to position the selection levers 430 to 439, inclusive, is shown in detail in Fig. 6, which for the most part shows the selection lever for the value 6 (lever #36). It will be understood that each actuator arm is controlled by a separate mechanism, but as these mechanisms are identical only one need be described. The rear end of each of the key levers, 4m to M9, inclusive, as heretofore mentioned, is provided with an upstanding ear 6% which underlies the horizontal arm of a bellcrank '10. The bellcranks it are mounted on a common shaft '74 suitably supported by a bracket l3 mounted on the base plate. The right hand edge 13A of the bracket 13 is turned upwardly to form a comb for the proper spacing of the respective bellcranks "it. The upturned comb 73A also serves to confine the rear ends of the levers All!) to M9 against undesirable side motion to the left. A second bracket 72 to the right of the key levers, also mounted on the base plate, serves to prevent bending to the right by the key levers. The second bracket 72 also provides a spring seat for each lower end of a series of springs "ii, one of which is aflixed to each bellcrank "ill in order to pull the bellcrank in a clockwise direction.

A latch lever 75 is pivotally mounted on the upwardly extending arm of the bellcrank is by any suitable means, such as pin, or stud, it. The right hand end of the latch i5 is supported by a link Ti to which it is pivotally connected, as by pin 18, the link 11 being provided with a slot 84 which embraces a pin 85 on the respective actuating arm (in Fig. 6, on arm 446). The latch 15 is pulled in a clockwise direction by a spring l'S tensioned between the right hand end of the latch and the horizontal arm of bellcrank '19.

Also pivotally mounted on the shaft it is a rocking arm which is provided with an ear 3! adapted to be engaged by the latch 15. The upper end of the arm 89 is provided with a nose 82 which engages an ear 83 on the corresponding actuating lever (in Fig. 6, on actuator arm M6). The rocking arms 8%] are normally pulled to the right by springs 88 tensioned between the arms and a common bar 90 extending between brackets 66 and E1.

It is thus obvious that depression of any numeral key will raise the rear end of the associated numeral lever to rotate the bellcrank ill in a counter-clockwise direction. Such movement pulls the latch 75 to the left. The latch i5 is engaged over the ear 8! of the rockable arm 8&3, thereby pulling the arm 82 in a counter-clockwise direction. Such movement of the arm 89 pulls its nose 82 off the ear 83, thus unlatching the corresponding actuator arm. Each of the actuator arms 44!? to M9, inclusive, is pulled in a clockwise direction b means of a heavy spring 8% tensioned between the respective arm and a common bracket 87 mounted on the right hand supporting wall 36. Thus depression of a key serves to unlatch the corresponding actuator arm and permit spring to pull the actuating lever in a clockwise direction.

The various selectionarms 1303 to 435, inclusive, and their associated actuating arms 4% to are, inclusive, respectively, lie immediately adjacent each other and are both loosely mounted on the longitudinal shaft 65. The hubs of these two arms provide suitable spacing of the mechanism. The selection arm (436 in Fig. 6) lies be tween its actuator arm ('6 in Fig. 6) and the associated rotatable arm 80. Thus, the arm 436 overlies the car 83 on the associated actuator arm 6%, so that the rotation of the actuator arm, when the nose 82 is unlatched from the ear 83, lifts the associated selection arm (43% in Fig. 6) likewise in a clockwise direction.

The selection arms 430 to 439 are normally pulled counter-clockwise by means of light springs as, tensioned between the arms and the bracket 73. The spring 86 is considerably stronger than the spring 89, so the former will rock both arms clockwise immediately upon the nose 8'2 being pulled off the car 83.

The left, or free, end of the selection arm is provided with an upstanding nose ll. It can be mentioned, as will be obvious from a perusal of Fig. 13, that the noses d1 of the various arms terminate in a single plane with the exception of the nose 41:], associated with the selection arm, which rises to an elevation somewhat above the others for a purpose to be hereinafter mentioned. The nose of the selection lever is provided with a camming face 48 and with a latchmg notch 49 adapted to cooperate with the detent 255, shown in Fig. 11. The detent, as is shown in Fig. 5A, is of modified U shape having two sides 25d and 255 enclosing the ends of the se lection arms, and having the central portion 25E turned under the form a nose which is cammed outwardly during upward movement of a selection arm and then immediately engages the notch 4:) to latch the selection arm in its raised position. The detent carries a spring arm 258 on which is mounted a spring 259, the other end of which spring engages shaft 25! and thus normally urges the detent in a latching direction (counterclockwise in Fig. 11).

lit will be obvious that upon depression of a key and the unlatching of the actuator arm, the selection segment arm of the selection arm is raised and latched in the raised position. This raising is utilized, as will hereinafter be explained, to enter the corresponding value in the selection segments mounted in the travelling carriage. As each value is entered, the upward motion of the selection arm moves the detent to release whatever arm had theretofore been latched in raised position. Thus, only one selection arm at a time will be in raised position, but any arm so raised will remain latched in its raised position after the actuator arm is restored to normal, the carriage stepped to the left and, normally, until a new value is entered in the next order.

Restoration of actuator arm Underlying the actuating arms is a common ball 95 (Figs. 53, 6 and 7). The bail is mounted end plates 96 and 91 which in turn are mounted on a shaft 98 suitably journalled in brackets 66 and '61. The ball assembly is pulled a counter-clockwise direction by any suitable neans such as spring 99. A bracing bar Illll, operating through slots IllI in the brackets 65 and also connects the plates 95 and 9'! and thus holds them in rigid spaced relationship and in correct alignment.

The forward end of the bail 95 is provided with a stud I02 which overlies the switch arm llll 5B and 7). The switch arm HE} carries insulated member III which engages the upper leaf N2 of a contact switch comprising the leaf H2 and a second, or lower, leaf H3. The switch is mounted by any suitable means such as bracket H4 affixed to the base plate. The

arm H0 ic held in either adjusted position by a detent I I5 mounted on bracket I I6 and urged into engagement with the switch arm I If] by any suitable means, such as compression spring H'I. Preferably the detent H5 is provided with guide plates H8 engaging the sides of switch arm III! in order to prevent relative lateral displacement between the switch arm and the detent.

It is seen from the foregoing description that depression of a numeral key releases the corresponding actuator arm and permits it to be pulled clockwise in Fig. 6, or counter-clockwise in Fig. 7. Depression of the actuator arm depresses the bail 95 against the tension of the spring 99, thereby lowering the switch arm I ID to cause a closing of the switch H2II3.

The switch H2-I I3 is connected to an acturestoring solenoid I25 (Figs. 53 and 6). lFreferaoly this solenoid is of the rotary type, of well known manufacture, which provides a rotary throw of about 45. The solenoid I25 rocks a stub shaft I26 (Figs. 5B and 7) which is keyed to the shaft till. A pair of identically shaped cams l2! and I28 are pinned to the shaft 65 to rotate therewith, one cam being located at each end of the shaft 55 (Fig. 5B). The shape of the cams is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Each cam is provided with a camming face I29 adapted to engage studs 53 i and I35, respectively, at the back and front end of the bracing bar I50 upon actuation of the solenoid, thereby rocking that bar and the associated bail assembly (countenclockwise in Fig. 7 and clockwise in Fig. 8). Such rocking of the bar ltll raises the outer end of the actuating arm, permitting it to again be latched by the springpressed pivot arm 80. The solenoid, shaft and cams are returned to their original position. by any suitable means, such as spring I38, one end of which is attached to a pin I3I mounted on cam ill and the other end of which is attached to a pin it? mounted on the bracket 66.

Thus, depression of any numeral key releases the corresponding actuator arm, which pulled clockwise by the spring 85. Such movement of the arm depresses the bail 95 to close the switch l l2 -I I3, which in turn operates th solenoid to depress the bar Iilll immediately restore the actuator arm to its original position. It will be noted, in Fig. 6, that the clockwise rotation of the actuator arm raises link H, which in turn lifts the latch i5 from engagement with the ear SI 01 the arm 89. Thus, the arm immediately returns to its latching position regardless as to how long the key in question is depressed. The slot ti l in the link ll permits displacement of the link and latch upwardly when the key is released. Thus, actuator arm is immediately restored to its original position.

Simultaneously, with the restoring or the actuator arms to normal position, the switch I IZ-I I3 is opened so as to interrupt current to the restorring solenoid I25. The means for breaking the circult is shown in Fig. 8 and comprises an arm IEI extending from the switch lever 97 to a point adjacent the cam I28. A roller I65 mounted on the cam engages the arm ISI of the switch lever and forceably moves the switch arm to the disengaged position, in which position it is held by the rletent Entry of solace into internal carriage The mechanism for the entry of values from the selection arms into the selection segments of the carriage is best shown in Fig. 13. The carriage Hill, which is shown in outline in Fig. 8, and in detail in Fig. 17, comprises the side plates I'll 

